Saturday, November 22, 2008

Battlestar Galactica episodes sydicated for two-hour time slots

One of the most unique and rarely talked about airings of the Battlestar Galactica (1978-1979) episodes was the syndicated two-hour night broadcast called "Odyssey of the Battlestar Galactica".  Airing one two-hour episode each night of the week.  Intercut with a brilliant blue logo and an odd choice of selection from Galactica's soundtrack: "Casopea and Starbuck", a haunting, mystical piece of music, largely featuring a melotron (the keyboard used by The Beatles on several of their groovier tracks like Strawberry Fields Forever and Bungalow Bill).

This odd part of Galactica's history has gone largely un-talked about, and forgotten except by Hollywood historian Rob Klein, who has given us a few images to share.  The Show was hosted by s
omeone called Don Galloway (who?).  He very clumsily explained about how special effects are made and basic facts about the show's production history.  

What makes his wrap arounds so unique is that he is holding an original Viper and Cylon Raider during his monologes.  These segments were produced and broadcast by Los Angeles' KCOP Channel 13, we are not sure if any other syndicated stations broadcast "Odyssey of the Battlestar Galactica."

  Impressively KCOP actually acquired the 6' Galactica Miniature and the full sized Starfighter mock-up from "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" from Universal Studios, who by this time probably had the mock-ups rotting on their back-lot for years. (the full sized Viper Mock-up was probable actually too big to move, as Universal grip Michael Smith (the crew member who BG producer Donald Bellasario only trusted to move it) was not available for a simple LA sydicated TV station shoe-string budget.


1 comment:

ericpaddon said...

You obviously were never a fan of "Ironside" if you don't know that Don Galloway was Sergeant Ed Brown for the entire eight year run of that Raymond Burr TV classic.